Kanye West Says He’s “Deeply Mortified” About Antisemitic Comments

Content warning: this article includes mention of suicidal ideation.

Kanye “Ye” West is living with regret.

The rapper recently revealed in an essay that a brain injury from a 2002 car accident, which broke his jaw, may be the reason behind some of his most shocking actions, like selling a T-shirt with a swastika on it. He says the injury went undiagnosed for years.

He explained in a letter published as an ad in the January 26th Wall Street Journal that initially, everyone focused on the obvious injuries – the broken bone, the swelling, and the immediate physical pain. However, the more serious injury, a hidden one inside his skull, wasn’t recognized at first.

West explained that his frontal lobe injury wasn’t discovered until 2023 because he didn’t have detailed scans and standard neurological tests weren’t enough to identify it. He believes this delayed diagnosis significantly harmed his mental health and ultimately led to him being diagnosed with bipolar type-1.

Oh my gosh, he talked about how it feels to have this, and it’s terrifying! He said the worst part isn’t even the stuff happening, it’s that it convinces you everything is FINE. Like, it’s so convincing you don’t need help, even though you clearly do. He described it as being totally blind, but thinking you’re the most insightful person in the world! And the feeling… he said it’s like you’re unbelievably powerful, absolutely certain of yourself, and completely unstoppable. It’s just… wow. It’s so chilling to hear him explain it like that.

Kanye West, who has four children with his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, has admitted that during a difficult time with his mental health, he became disconnected from reality and behaved in ways he now regrets.

During a particularly unstable period in my life, I was drawn to extremely negative symbols, even going so far as to sell T-shirts with the swastika on them. A challenging part of living with bipolar type-1 is experiencing disconnected moments – many of which I don’t remember – that led to bad decisions and impulsive actions, often feeling like I wasn’t in control of my own body.

Before ending his letter with a warm closing, West explained he wasn’t looking for pity or special treatment, but hoped to be forgiven. He simply asked for patience and understanding as he worked through things and found his way back to a better place.

West has spoken about the swastika T-shirts before. These shirts were the only items available for purchase on the Yeezy website when an advertisement aired during the 2025 Super Bowl, and in at least one instance, West urged viewers to visit the site.

He stated that he was truly sorry and ashamed of his behavior, and is dedicated to taking responsibility, getting help, and making real improvements. However, he emphasized that this doesn’t justify his actions. He also firmly denied being a Nazi or holding antisemitic views, expressing his affection for Jewish people.

The artist known as “Runaway” revealed he experienced a four-month period of unstable and erratic behavior starting in early 2025, which he says severely impacted his life. After reaching a low point recently, he shared that his wife, Bianca Censori, motivated him to get professional help.

Amid these low points, he said, there were occasions he “didn’t want to be here anymore.”

Now that I’m feeling more stable with the help of medication, therapy, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle, I have a clearer sense of purpose. I’m focusing all my energy on creating positive and impactful art – including music, fashion, design, and other new projects – to make a difference.

Before ending his letter with a warm closing, West explained that he wasn’t looking for pity or special treatment, but hoped to be forgiven. He simply asked for patience and understanding as he worked through his personal journey to get back on track.

Just a day before the advertisement was released, he stated on X (formerly Twitter) on February 8th that he hadn’t created the product, explaining, “I would never sell a t-shirt with a swastika on it because people could be physically harmed while wearing it. I love my fans and supporters.”

As Kanye West focuses on his well-being and moving forward, he’s part of a growing number of celebrities who are openly discussing their mental health. Here’s more on this trend.

Rapper Radric Davis, known as Gucci Mane, shared in his 2025 book, Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man, that he was diagnosed with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This diagnosis followed a mental health crisis he experienced in 2020.

He explained on The Breakfast Club that the experience made him realize he needed to prioritize his health and take responsibility for his well-being. He said he never wants to go through something similar again and is committed to seeing a therapist, and will even consider medication if necessary.

Gucci Mane shared that he hoped being open about his struggles would help others. He also said his children, Ice Davis and Iceland Davis, with his wife Keyshia Ka’Oir, were a big reason he decided to get help when he was going through a difficult time.

He explained that his wife was expecting their son. He worried about the impact raising a family would have on his mental health, fearing a severe episode he might not recover from. That’s why he proactively began therapy and sought support.

The former star of Gossip Girl recently shared his struggles with body image, explaining that he experienced what he called “body dysmorphia” as a young actor.

In an April 2025 interview with The Guardian, Penn shared that they used to strongly dislike their body and wished they had a different one.

He explained that after his parents’ divorce, he gained weight and then entered a phase where he felt pressured to focus on his appearance. He realized that in this new world, being seen as more attractive seemed to equal greater success and worth, and he both willingly and unwillingly participated in trying to achieve that.

Despite the mental struggles, though, Penn credited his ability to persist to his spirituality.

He explained that overcoming his disappointment and personal struggles enabled him to return to things with a renewed sense of self.

The Scrubs alum has been vocal about her past difficult relationship with food.

She described her struggles with food, saying on the The Funny Thing Is podcast, “Some people might label it an eating disorder, but it’s just how I lived my life. Food was always my escape, and I took it to extremes.”

She added, “I would over-exercise, and there was a sprinkle of bulimia in there.”

Despite admitting she finds it hard to stick to a diet, she’s also been open about the positive steps she’s making towards a healthier lifestyle.

In 2017, she told Bon Appétit that at age 23, she completely changed her lifestyle by eliminating sugar, stopping alcohol, and taking up yoga, breathing exercises, and stretching. She described these changes as being more effective than the medication Ritalin.

She shared that she’s an actress who struggles with eating and body image, but she’s working to overcome these challenges and focus on her overall health by prioritizing healthy foods.

The Full House alum reflected on her mental health journey and navigating her battle with depression.

You know, I’ve talked to so many people about this, and it’s incredibly tough to open up, even to those closest to you. I personally struggle with feeling like I should be able to handle things on my own, and admitting you need to talk about it feels like a sign of weakness. It’s a really common feeling, and it’s okay to not be okay and to reach out for support. It’s actually a sign of strength, not weakness!

The Grammy-winning artist frequently talks about safeguarding her well-being, like blocking negativity online, and often offers guidance to others who are struggling.

Honestly, when anyone asks me what helped me through everything, I always say it’s all about patience. I mean, I had to be patient with myself. There was a point where things were really tough, and I just… didn’t push it. I just waited, and you know what? She’s right – things really do fade. It sounds simple, but it’s everything. It really is.

As people adjusted to social distancing to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, the singer of “Firework” shared honestly about how challenging times like these can be.

On Twitter, Katy expressed feeling torn between the challenges of avoiding the virus and the depression she experiences with the current situation. She explained that she often finds solace in her car, saying it’s become her safe space since there aren’t many other places she feels comfortable going.

The model partnered with designer Kenneth Cole to support The Mental Health Coalition and discussed her personal struggles with anxiety on Good Morning America.

After her panic attacks began happening again, she was finally able to find the information she needed to understand them.

Kendall shared that she experiences both good and anxious days, making her involvement with this movement important to her. She hopes to help others feel less isolated and understood.

The actor known for playing Black Adam has publicly discussed his struggles with depression and the challenges men often face when trying to talk about their mental wellbeing.

Everyone experiences difficult times and struggles with depression – it doesn’t care who you are. It took me a while to understand, but the most important thing is to not be afraid to talk about what you’re going through. Men, in particular, often keep their feelings bottled up, but remember, you’re not alone.

Prince Harry helped reduce the shame around getting help for mental health by sharing his own experiences with therapy in an interview with the Telegraph. He explained that talking about his struggles made him realize many other people go through similar things, saying, “Once you start talking about it, you realize you’re not alone.”

The actress from Empire is a strong advocate for seeking therapy, having openly discussed her own experiences with depression. She’s shared that talking to a therapist is essential for her well-being, telling Variety, “That’s the only way I can get through it.”

Taraji P. Henson founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to fight the stigma surrounding mental health within the Black community and to expand access to Black mental health professionals.

The Grammy-winning artist revealed she began a therapy involving MDMA and psilocybin, a type of PTSD treatment, after struggling with an eating disorder and performance anxiety.

She told Rolling Stone in May 2025 that she was performing live without feeling nervous for the first time. She described a strange, shared physical sensation with the audience – almost like a change in air pressure – that made her realize how much she thrives on a powerful, emotional connection with her listeners while performing her music.

She explained that prioritizing her mental well-being and stopping birth control helped her develop a broader understanding of her gender identity.

She explained she decided to stop taking birth control, feeling it had disconnected her from traditional expectations of womanhood. It might sound unusual, she admitted, but she felt liberated, as if she was no longer bound by those expectations, and that freedom allowed her to explore new possibilities.

I’ll never forget when I was in middle school and dealing with really tough anxiety and depression. Honestly, the support I got from my family and seeing a therapist truly saved me. I shared this a while back on Instagram – I really want people to know that reaching out for help is the hardest, but most important, first step. You matter so much, more than you could ever realize.

The singer behind the hit “What He Didn’t Do” has opened up about her experiences living with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over the past several years.

Carly shared on the August 2025 episode of Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde podcast that her anxiety began during her divorce, which happened during the Covid pandemic. However, she also revealed she’s struggled with severe OCD since childhood.

Over the past decade, I learned to suppress my feelings and cope on my own. Eventually, a couple of years ago, I realized I needed to go back to therapy and start understanding what was going on. It wasn’t something that started recently; I’ve actually been dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder since I was a child, around six or seven years old.

The actress known for Frozen has openly shared her mental health coping strategies for years, both in public speeches and on social media like Instagram.

She encourages people to discover what works best for their well-being. According to Health magazine, her own approach includes things like medication, actively focusing on positive aspects of life (listing ten good things for every negative thought), and regular exercise.

The cookbook author is a mother of four and has openly discussed her experience with postpartum depression, a condition many new mothers face but often feel unable to talk about.

I remember reading her words in Glamour back in 2017, and they really stuck with me. She explained how each time she spoke about it, it became a little less daunting. More than anything, she wanted everyone to understand that this could happen to anyone, and that if it did happen to you, you shouldn’t feel ashamed or like you’re going through it alone. It was so powerful.

While publicizing her book, Mirror, Mirror, the model shared with The Edit magazine that she struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts as a teenager, describing a feeling of “something dark” within her during that period.

Cara shared with the publication, as reported by W magazine, that she used to depend on love and other people for her happiness. She realized she needed to learn to find joy within herself, and after a long journey, she’s finally able to be happy on her own.

As someone who champions well-being, I always love seeing celebrities open up about mental health. Ariana Grande recently responded to a fan tweet, and her message really resonated with me. She playfully acknowledged the joke, but then honestly shared that therapy has been a lifesaver for her, many times over. It’s so important to remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, and I applaud her for normalizing that conversation!

She encouraged me not to be afraid to ask for help. You don’t have to live with constant pain, and it is possible to heal from trauma. She acknowledged she had a long way to go, but said simply recognizing that healing is possible is a good first step.

The singer has publicly shared her experiences with addiction, recovery, and mental health, and often incorporates these personal struggles into her songs.

She consistently encourages her followers to prioritize their mental well-being, emphasizing that it’s a continuous effort with inevitable setbacks. She previously shared on Instagram, “Just a reminder to anyone who’s having a hard time – life has its highs and lows, but it’s important to keep going.”

The actress has openly discussed mental health, both through her work – like her portrayal of Rue in the show Euphoria – and in her personal life.

Zendaya revealed in 2013, through her now-closed app, that she experienced anxiety following a difficult appearance on Ellen, where her microphone malfunctioned. She’s since found healthy ways to cope with these feelings, explaining that it’s sometimes necessary to take a break to reduce stress.

In a recent interview with WSJ Magazine, the singer openly shared her experiences with mental health, explaining that she experienced extreme emotional swings – periods of intense highs followed by weeks-long lows.

She revealed she’s been dealing with mental health challenges, but finding the right medication has made a huge difference in her life.

The Grammy-winning artist dedicated herself to promoting kindness and openly discussing mental health, sharing her own experiences as well.

She shared that she’d dealt with mental health challenges for a long time, sometimes openly and sometimes privately. Speaking at the 2018 Global Changemakers Award, she explained that she firmly believes keeping these struggles hidden can actually make things worse.

2026-01-26 18:20

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